Jack Wilshere penciled in for new contract talks with Arsenal

Arsenal have begun laying the groundwork for
Jack Wilshere to commit his future to the club, by reportedly beginning preliminary discussions with his management over a new contract.

New deal: Jack Wilshere of Arsenal (Picture: Getty Images)

The midfielder, 20, still has two-and-a-half years left to run on his current deal, but the Gunners board understandably want no uncertainty surrounding their prized asset, and according to the Daily Mail, have begun initial discussions over a bumper new agreement.

Wilshere is currently pocketing around £50,000-a-week, but a new contract will bring him closer to Arsenal’s top earner Lukas Podolski, who earns in the region of £90,000-per-week.

Manager Arsene Wenger is also understood to have earmarked the Gunners academy graduate as a future captain of the club, and this will be spelled out to Wilshere in future contract talks.

Arsenal will be keen to get Wilshere’s long-term future resolved before the end of the season in order to avoid a repeat of the messy situation which they faced with Robin van Persie, Samir Nasri and now Theo Walcott.

All three players were allowed to run their contract down to the last year, with Van Persie and Nasri joining Arsenal’s Premier League rivals for a cut-price in successive summers.

Walcott is still yet to put pen to paper on a new contract and will be allowed to discuss a free transfer with other clubs in January should no deal be reached with Arsenal.